Last week, Keary and I took a mini vacation to South Padre Island, Texas, about 6 hours from out house.  We stayed at a nice hotel about a block from the beach.  It was a short walk and I was ok with that, but would have preferred to stay on the beach.  We lived in Florida for five years so my beach standards are high.  When we got to the beach, there was seaweed on the beach; not a lot, but it was there.  Also, I was expecting the water to be blue, but it was not.  It had a slightly brown tinge to it, not too bad, but not blue.  Also the weather was not perfect, it was overcast the majority of the time we were in South Padre. Now I had a choice to make.  I could be bummed out because the beach was not up to “my unrealistic perfect standards” or I could enjoy God’s beautiful creation.  It took me about 5 minutes to get with the program and to decide that my trip was a gift from God!  I thoroughly enjoyed the time Keary and I had together.  It’s the little things that bring us joy!!!

My daughter lives in Africa and she called me to let me know that their African cook was making mac and cheese (her favorite food) for dinner.  While she was on the phone, I heard a Whoo!  Hoo!  from one of her roommates.  They were so excited and grateful to have something we take for granted here in America.  Granted African cheese is kind of nasty, but it was mac and cheese.  It’s the little things that bring us joy!!

Big things bring us happiness for a short time and then we have a let down, but those little things that God brings our way; they are the things that bring us joy!